RARE Reichenbach Morey & Will Alta A 4x5 Folding View Camera - -
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:7015003 | Model: Alta A |
| Format: 4x5 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Brand: Reichenbach, Morey & Will |
This is a Reichenbach Morey & Will Company Alta A 4x5 Folding View Camera. This was manufactured in Rochester NY around 1896. I believe it was the first camera they produced.
I know the company made a Alta B and C and the Alta Automatic after this model. The business sold in 1900.
It is in excellent condition. It is mahogany covered in leather.
The wood is beautiful. The leather is intact but worn from age. The leather handle on top is still in one piece. All the brass par...ts are clean and not corroded.
Everything works.
The lens board slides out on the brass rail to focus. The lens board can be adjusted up or down.
The lens is clean with no fungus. The shutter and the diaphragm work well. There is a small waist level type viewer on the front of the ramp that flips 90 degrees for vertical viewing.
The lens is behind the shutter. Later models had a glass front element but I don’t think this had one as I held a spare ground glass to the back and it focused on the glass so I believe the lens in complete. It does not come with a ground glass. Instead it has a Kodak film pack adapter for the back. It has a dark slide. Patent numbers on adapter are from 1903.
The bellows in tan leather and looks great. It is still soft and moves easily.
I did not detect any light leaks on the bellows.
It’s hard to believe this thing is over 120 years old.
This is a very RARE and special find.
I am selling a large quantity of photographic and darkroom equipment from an estate. Watch for my other auctions in the future.
While I know what most of this stuff is, some of it is outside of my expertise as a professional photographer.
I am listing what I know about an item.
I ship everything by USPS Priority Mail as they provide packaging and include insurance.
Don’t ask me to choose a different method of shipment.
Everything is sold as is.
Thisas stored in a cool dry location.
I know the company made a Alta B and C and the Alta Automatic after this model. The business sold in 1900.
It is in excellent condition. It is mahogany covered in leather.
The wood is beautiful. The leather is intact but worn from age. The leather handle on top is still in one piece. All the brass par...ts are clean and not corroded.
Everything works.
The lens board slides out on the brass rail to focus. The lens board can be adjusted up or down.
The lens is clean with no fungus. The shutter and the diaphragm work well. There is a small waist level type viewer on the front of the ramp that flips 90 degrees for vertical viewing.
The lens is behind the shutter. Later models had a glass front element but I don’t think this had one as I held a spare ground glass to the back and it focused on the glass so I believe the lens in complete. It does not come with a ground glass. Instead it has a Kodak film pack adapter for the back. It has a dark slide. Patent numbers on adapter are from 1903.
The bellows in tan leather and looks great. It is still soft and moves easily.
I did not detect any light leaks on the bellows.
It’s hard to believe this thing is over 120 years old.
This is a very RARE and special find.
I am selling a large quantity of photographic and darkroom equipment from an estate. Watch for my other auctions in the future.
While I know what most of this stuff is, some of it is outside of my expertise as a professional photographer.
I am listing what I know about an item.
I ship everything by USPS Priority Mail as they provide packaging and include insurance.
Don’t ask me to choose a different method of shipment.
Everything is sold as is.
Thisas stored in a cool dry location.
